RTA, UIUC sponsoring two educational events

Attendees at the 2012 International Concrete Crosstie and Fastening System Symposium at UIUC visit UIUC’s Rail Engineering Research LaboratoryRailway Tie Association

In June 2014, the Railway Tie Association (RTA) and the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) will host joint activities that will provide educational and networking opportunities relating to crossties and fastening systems. These events are expected to draw domestic and international attendees that include rail infrastructure component designers, manufacturers, researchers, and end users such as Class I’s and transit operators.

The RTA Annual Field Trip will be taking place June 1-5. “It is focusing on an amazing set of field visits in Chicago and Central Illinois,” according to RTA Executive Director Jim Gaunnt. “The Field Trip will end on the UIUC campus in Champaign, Ill., and will include technical sessions and laboratory tours at UIUC.”

In conjunction with the RTA Field Trip, RailTEC is hosting the 2014 International Crosstie and Fastening System Symposium at UIUC. This event will take place June 3-5 and will include technical sessions on a variety of topics related to crossties and fastening systems as well as a technical tour of UIUC’s new Rail Research and Innovation Laboratory and Voestalpine Nortrak’s foundry and injection molding facility in nearby Decatur, Ill.